Kris Villasista

Media Release

Hawaiʻi Island police have arrested a man in possession of a car that was used in two attempted robberies in Hilo on Wednesday.

At about 11:40 a.m., a man armed with what appeared to be a firearm attempted to rob the cashier at a gas station on Kaumana Drive. He left without getting any cash. The cashier was not injured.

Approximately 20 minutes later, the same person attempted to rob an employee at a recycling center off Waiānuenue Avenue but again was unsuccessful. The employee was not injured.

The suspect fled in a white Suzuki Samurai that had previously been reported stolen.

At approximately 3:20 p.m., while conducting checks in the Honomū area, officers located the car at a Honomū residence. Kris Villasista, 37, of Honomū was arrested for unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle. He was taken to the Hilo Police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.